Friday, February 26, 2010

Local Radio Stations, Power 96.3 Fm, Cool 105.5 Fm and Big Red Country 92.3 Fm (and Kpod fm in Crescent City), finished their two day Radiothon and raised $90,467 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis TN.

Thanks to the many volunteers, the people that pledged money and everyone at Bicoastal Media that made this happen.
Below is the final video shot of the event as we got the final total.

The two day, 3 station (4 if you count kpod in Crescent City), radiothon is in full swing this Thursday February 25th. The video below is from the studios of Power 96.3 fm. Rick from Buddy's Towing and Laurene from St. Jude are shown sitting with D/J/ Pete Meyer during the radiothon. The two guys seen attacking pizza are D.J.'s Rollin Treahearne of Big Red Country 92.3 fm and the Rock and Roll Burlyman of Cool 105.5 Fm.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Bill at Highboltage gets credit for bringing this up a few days ago. It is a reminder of our past. Forget the past and we are bound to repeat it.

~from wikipedia~

Massacre

On February 25, 1860, the Wiyot experienced a tragic massacre which devastated their numbers and has remained a pervasive part of their cultural heritage and identity. World Renewal ceremonies were being held at the village of Tutulwat, on “Indian Island” (also known as Gunther Island[3])about a mile and a half offshore from Eureka in Humboldt Bay. The leader of the Humboldt Bay Wiyots was Captain Jim. He organized and led the ceremony to start a new year.

A group of Eureka men came to the island in the early morning after the last ceremony was completed. They were armed with hatchets, clubs and knives.[4] They left their guns behind so the noise of the slaughter would be only screams rather than gunshots. This was not the only massacre that took place that night. Two other village sites were raided, on the Eel River and on the South Spit. Reports of the number of Wiyots killed that night vary from 80 to 200.

The 1860 massacre was well documented historically and was reported in San Francisco and New York by a young American writer who would later use the pen name Bret Harte. Harte was working as a printer’s helper and assistant editor at a local newspaper at the time, and his boss was temporarily absent, leaving Harte in charge of the paper. Harte published a detailed account condemning the event, writing, “a more shocking and revolting spectacle never was exhibited to the eyes of a Christian and civilized people. Old women wrinkled and decrepit lay weltering in blood, their brains dashed out and dabbled with their long grey hair. Infants scarcely a span along, with their faces cloven with hatchets and their bodies ghastly with wounds.”

On the contrary, the Humboldt Times newspaper editorialized, “For the past four years we have advocated two—and only two—alternatives for ridding our country of Indians: either remove them to some reservation or kill them. The loss of life and destruction of property by the Indians for ten years past has not failed to convince every sensitive man that the two races cannot live together, and the recent desperate and bloody demonstrations on Indian Island and elsewhere is proof that the time has arrived that either the pale face or the savage must yield the ground.”

The Times apparently represented the mainstream opinion in the area at the time. An investigation failed to identify a single perpetrator, although those who did the killing were rumored to be well known. Harte quit his job one month later and moved to San Francisco, where an anonymous letter published in a city paper is attributed to him, describing widespread community approval of the massacre.

The Wiyot people were decimated. They were corralled at Fort Humboldt for protection. Survivors were herded mostly to Round Valley, established as an Indian reservation within California. They kept escaping and returning to their homeland.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

We, of Redwood Curtain CopWatch, receive report after report of unprovoked, vicious behavior by Sergeant Michael Quigley toward houseless people. With this letter we intend, once again, to alert you to Quigley's regular practice of abusing his authority and abusing people whom he apparently perceives to have little to no political power. As exhibited by his indecent and cruel behavior, Quigley believes he has absolute impunity to blatantly and repeatedly violate peoples' human and constitutional rights. This open letter goes out to hundreds of individuals and groups to call attention to Quigley's ongoing unacceptable behavior and to publicly call on you to correct it immediately and prevent any such misconduct and abuse in the future.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Significantly less fog is drifting in along the Pacific Coast these days, a new study finds. The shift force a decline in redwood trees, which rely on the fog to keep them supplied with water during the arid summer months.

Close to a hundred people turned out for a presentation at Trinidad Town Hall tonight. The grass roots group calling itself "The Friends Of College Cove" put on a slide show and with a Q and A for local residents concerned about an 18+ acre subdivision planned near College Cove north of Trinidad.

The project would allow the property to be divided into 9 lots with a living unit on each. The county code allows each of these to also have a second unit, sometimes called a mother in-law unit. Water is available through 5 wells that exist on the property and did not seem to be an issue. Septic systems were. The entire Trinidad area is on septic, from Moonstone to Patrick's Point. Residents are concerned about the wastewater impacts to a creek that runs adjacent to the property. Locally known as college cove creek, though the creek has no official name, it is the creek that dumps off a cliff and forms a waterfall on college cove beach.

Other concerns were raised about the number of trees that would be removed and a retaining wall along a road deep into the property that may be seen from Stagecoach Road.

People were asked to write letters to the Humboldt County Planning Commission with their concerns about the development. Those letters would be delivered to the commission by The Friends of College Cove.

The presenters are pushing for an Environmental Impact Report to be done on the property before the Planning Commission gives it's final approval. They also urged everyone in attendance to show up to the next meeting of the Planning Commission.

Off the record, Harbor Commissioner, Patrick Higgins was in attendance and supports the idea of a full EIR to be conducted.
Dennis Mayo, on the Planning Commission said he was there to observe and learn but said in the end, the Commission would follow laws set up by the County regarding property development.

The project is being designed by Laco and Associates and a representative was present but he, Mr. Mayo and Mr. Higgins were not asked to speak.

The next Planning Commission meeting is on March 4th. at the Humboldt County Court House at 6 pm.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Spring is over a month away but I just saw my first daffodil of the year. This little beauty popped up along Westhaven Drive seemingly overnight. Around here daffodils are one of the first brave flowers of the year to try to reach for the sun. They are a good reminder that winter won't last forever.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

I was at Ritas Margaritas Restaurant in Arcata for my friends birthday tonight. In the door came 6, smartly dressed girls. Three of them had what looked like machine guns but turned out to be violins. They were there to serenade a couple for Valentines day. They just walked in the door and like a singing telegram, started to play. I had my small camera for the birthday so I captured the ArMack Orchestra/Madrigals in compact video singing the old Turtles song "Happy Together". They were just about the best mariachis I have ever heard.

They are actually a group of girls made up from Arcata and McKinleyville. They can be hired play up to three days before Valentines for just $15.00 for the first song and $5.00 a song after that. A chocolate Heart of Flowers can be added for just a few more dollars along with a written message for card delivered when they show up.
No email but you can write to them for next year. Available only in Arcata McKinleyville area.
ArMack Orchestra, Arcata High School, 1720 M St., Arcata, Ca. 95521
(send a self addressed stamped envelope or a self undressed stamped elephant to receive order form which will need to be mailed back).

Disclaimer: I do radio commercials for Rita's but did not receive any special gratuity or discount for writing this.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Friday earthquake that measured 5.9 on February 12th, 5th, did some damage at one of the radio stations on Kneeland. It seems bad vibes took out the harmonic filter or where it begins and caused all kinds of trouble.

Local engineer Mark Dare is shown with the part that failed. He said when he got out of the truck with it at the metallurgist place to see if they could refabricate some parts, people ducked.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Tonight is the debut of the new TV show I'm co-hosting, Marin Voices and Views. My co-host in this new adventure is Lawrence A. Strick, an attorney in San Rafael who is my office neighbor. Larry approached me last summer with the idea of doing a local show on news and politics. With the help of the great team at the new Marin Community Media Center, we've launched this new show. It's a half hour interview program, and we are currently recording one new show each month.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

My power supply on the laptop started to die. I checked the warranty I bought with the computer and realized that I didn't register it online when I bought the thing. I still had the box and receipts so I went online and registered it. The next night I called the phone number to get a new power supply.
The nice guy in Oklahoma said a new power supply would be shipped out and covered under my extended warranty that I bought through Staples where I bought the thing.

Today, when I was updating the Green Report with Brad and Desi, I noticed that the link had been changed to the following:

Thank you for submitting your registration request on-line. For any questions regarding your plan, please contact our customer service center at 1-866-782-9155. Please retain your original receipt as it will be required should you need to submit a claim under your Plan. Note: we recommend you print this confirmation page.

That was strange since only I am supposed to have access to the blog. Also I noticed the link to Raw Story on the drug story below was corrupted. I fixed that and updated the Green Report. Don't know what to say except

I hear you. You don't like anti drug war or green stuff. Thanks for the encouragement. I will double my efforts.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

"It sure was an encouraging signal when Drug Czar Kerlikowske declared that the 'war on drugs' was over shortly after he took the job last year," commented Tom Angel, spokesman for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. "But until the budget numbers match up with rhetoric, it looks like the war is still being waged."From RawStory.com

Photo from RawStory.com

This should keep the funding going for those annoying SUV's with tinted windows and government plates.

At least Obama has his priorities, JOBS, no matter how productive.

There will be a proposition on the ballot that would legalize weed in California. If it passes, maybe these guys could go after meth labs or slave labor immigrants or something more useful and positive.

Update: Highboltage has this...Sacramento County Releases 500 Prisoners Early

Posted in Uncategorized with tags california, early release, jails, parole, prisons, probation, sacramento on February 2, 2010 by highboldtage

A new state wide law signed by the Governor last October went into effect Jan. 25. Under it’s provisions state and local prisons and jails must release thousands of non-violent convicts. Sacramento County has released 500 and several other counties have released hundreds.